Bank fraud suspect will be brought to justice: Iranian officials

The head of Iran's security forces says there are no obstacles to getting
Mahmoudreza Khavari, a top suspect in the $3-billion fraud case, back into the
country from Canada.

A court session of the bank fraud case (file photo)

The Mehr News Agency reported that Ramin Mehmanparast, a spokesman for the
Iranian Foreign Ministry, said on Tuesday that the ministry is in close
cooperation with Interpol and Canada to arrange the extradition of Mahmoudreza
Khavari, the former head of Iran's Melli Bank.

"We are in close contact with the Canadian embassy and have invited the Canadian
police liaison officer in Islamabad to come to Iran," Mehmanparast said. "We
have discussed the whole matter, and he has taken charge of the follow-up."

He added that Iran has taken action, and all the necessary procedures are being
carried out.

After the news first broke that a $3-billion fraud had been perpetrated through
the sale of fraudulent letters of credit to some eight Iranian banks, Khavari,
who ran one of Iran's major financial institutions as the head of the Melli
Bank, fled to Canada. He holds Canadian citizenship and is currently residing
there.

The head of security forces, Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam, also announced today,
Wednesday, that: "There are no obstacles in the way of returning Kahvari to Iran
through Interpol with the collaboration of Canada."

He stressed that Khavari will be returned to Iran through international legal
channels.

The main suspect in the $3-billion fraud case, MahAfarid Amir Khosravi, who is
now being prosecuted, reportedly said during his last trial session: "Who let
Mr. Khavari escape? If these people are not presented in court in the next
session, I will expose them myself."